Today's find!.........................

HappyHippyDad · Jan 21, 2019

I was due to install an additional socket on the ring. When I tested the ring I found a broken CPC. The customer was happy for me to fault find as they really wanted the new socket.

Split the ring, livened up the good side and immediately discounted all but 3 sockets (one ring for the whole house - 3 bed semi) which was amazing. Had a look at the 3 sockets and all were fine which is always a worry as it means junction box or a fault with the cable in the wall.

Narrowed it down to between 2 sockets and then took the plunge suggesting that the kitchen fitter from 30 years previous had drilled through a cable in the wall when putting the wall cabinets up. It wasn't a sheer guess, they were in line with one of the 2 sockets.

Took the cabinets down and found this:

[ElectriciansForums.net] Today's find!.........................

Doesn't it feel great when you find the fault!

I love being an electrician (apologies, Domestic Installer)!

Toneyz · Jan 21, 2019

Was there not a fault to earth?

HappyHippyDad · Jan 21, 2019

anthonybragg said:
Was there not a fault to earth?

You'd think so wouldn't you, but the rawl plug had insulated the L,Nand E from each other. The screw/rawl plug had completely sheered the CPC, and nicked well into the L and there was also copper showing on the N.

MJPD29 · Jan 21, 2019

Perfect shot couldn't have hit it much better

Gavin John Hyde · Jan 21, 2019

Ah kitchen fitters. had to quote for some remedials at start of month. customer wanted sockets moved and some new ones in her kitchen.
Kitchen fitter was meant to arrange a sparky, did his bit asked for payment and said arrange one yourself to the lady.
despite finding the cooker feed going diagonally across the wall, he marked it and still put his wall units on it and said to get that looked at! also decided to cover half of one of the sockets with his floor unit so it cant even be removed!
customer thinks i am expensive though as i quoted to install rcd enclosure for kitchen sockets and cooker to meet 18th edition regs. apparently the golden boy kitchen fitter has told her they arent needed as its only a spur for the new socket and moving them. he says that he reckons I am trying to rip her off with extra work.

Toneyz · Jan 21, 2019

You couldn't make it up, could you!

GBDamo · Jan 21, 2019

happyhippydad said:
I was due to install an additional socket on the ring. When I tested the ring I found a broken CPC. The customer was happy for me to fault find as they really wanted the new socket.

Split the ring, livened up the good side and immediately discounted all but 3 sockets (one ring for the whole house - 3 bed semi) which was amazing. Had a look at the 3 sockets and all were fine which is always a worry as it means junction box or a fault with the cable in the wall.

Narrowed it down to between 2 sockets and then took the plunge suggesting that the kitchen fitter from 30 years previous had drilled through a cable in the wall when putting the wall cabinets up. It wasn't a sheer guess, they were in line with one of the 2 sockets.

Took the cabinets down and found this:

View attachment 47320
Doesn't it feel great when you find the fault!
I love being an electrician (apologies, Domestic Installer)!

That is some surgical fault finding, well done.

Dave OCD · Jan 21, 2019

Well I think it proves the point that you can be a 'DI' AND competent ! Great work HHD.

Baddegg · Jan 21, 2019

Nice work HHD!

GBDamo · Jan 21, 2019

Dave OCD said:
Well I think it proves the point that you can be a 'DI' AND competent ! Great work HHD.

Easy now, they'll be a lynchin tonite.

streamer · Jan 21, 2019

Very satisfying to find, I'm sure. Good work!

Taylortwocities · Jan 22, 2019

Snap! Those kitchen fitters are bloomin good shots. This one had been on the wall for 20 years, circuit was all working too. Only found it as part of a kitchen refit jobby. That's oval conduit in the wall with 1mm lighting cable in it.

View attachment 47326

holychihuahua · Jan 27, 2019

Gavin John Hyde said:
Ah kitchen fitters. had to quote for some remedials at start of month. customer wanted sockets moved and some new ones in her kitchen.
Kitchen fitter was meant to arrange a sparky, did his bit asked for payment and said arrange one yourself to the lady.
despite finding the cooker feed going diagonally across the wall, he marked it and still put his wall units on it and said to get that looked at! also decided to cover half of one of the sockets with his floor unit so it cant even be removed!
customer thinks i am expensive though as i quoted to install rcd enclosure for kitchen sockets and cooker to meet 18th edition regs. apparently the golden boy kitchen fitter has told her they arent needed as its only a spur for the new socket and moving them. he says that he reckons I am trying to rip her off with extra work.

You should have given the Grenfell Tower Fridge Freezer fire spiel and added an AFDD to the quote.

leep82 · Jan 28, 2019

Got to love Mr kitchen fitter. Open c.p.c on a recent kitchen refurb i did. After id spent an hour or so trying to find the fault, the customer decided to tell me “ oh yeah the kitchen guys said they hit a cable but they repaired it”. The repair is the little bit of tape where the live conductor has been nicked. You cant quite tell on the pic but they made a proper job on the c.p.c going straight through it.

sweet212 · Jan 29, 2019

Had a similar issue with RFC CPC continuity. I started going point to point around the property when I noticed a spur had been taken from the ring to supply a single socket. The cable was clipped surface and just didn't look right. One of the clips had piereced the metal capping and line and earth conductors. So much for initial testing prior to energising.